Like Father, Like Son

GI went on an outbound trip to Villamor Airbase yesterday.  They were supposed to be back at school by 7pm.  Since MacGyver had to attend to a meeting at Quezon City, I was the designated fetcher.  It was kind of cloudy, so MacGyver wanted me to head for Makati early just in case they decided to skip some parts of their outbound and head back ahead of schedule.  He dropped me off at the Quezon Avenue station before he went to his meeting and I took the MRT to Makati.

Fortunately for me, Z was headed for Makati as well and would be returning to QC in the early evening.   I arranged for us to meet so that GI and I wouldn't have to commute home.

MacGyver was right in sending me off early.  GI's bus arrived at school a little after 5 pm.  He took a jeep to Glorietta and we went around for a while.  We managed to coordinate schedules and locations with Z.  We met her at AIM then after a quick trip to Makati Cinema Square, we headed back North along EDSA.

As we traversed the highway, traffic was irritably bad.  We were on the fast lane which didn't seem to be living up to its name.  

"Should I shift lanes?"  Z asked as we passed Estrella.  

"Go,"  I said.

"Don't!"  GI said.  "Don't do it Auntie Z.  I tell you, if you shift lanes, this lane will start to move faster.   Everyone has their chance to go fast."

GI's calm demeanor convinced her to stick to her lane.   

WDD 400.  That was the car we COULD have followed had we shifted lanes.

We watched WDD 400 move farther and farther ahead.

"We could've been that far ahead,"  I said, used to MacGyver's constant shifting of lanes.

If I were driving, I would most likely stick to my lane because I absolutely HATE weaving through traffic.  But most of the time, MacGyver is at the wheel, and he is more familiar with the routes and the flow of traffic.  He knows which lanes move faster at which point.  (Visit him at www.tough-gear.blogspot.com.)  

"No, Mom.  Trust me.  We'll have our chance."  GI said.  "Stay on this lane, Auntie Z."

I noted XCY 143 on our right side.  XCY 143 was probably ten cars down after WDD 400.

Traffic moved slowly and cars just seemed to pass us by.

"What do you have to say for yourself, young man?"  I teased GI. 

"Don't worry, Mom.  We'll catch up."

I had my doubts.  I showed them XCY 143 which was still ahead of us in the next lane.  That meant that WDD 400 was much farther ahead.

Somehow, as if to convince me that patience is a virtue, our lane inched forward.  As we approached the Shaw underpass, WDD 400 was within sight.   And to his right, was XCY 143.

"See, Mom,"  GI said smugly.

At the Shaw underpass, Z decided it was time to shift to the right.  She was familiar with the flow of traffic here and preferred to keep right.  No amount of reasoning from the back seat could convince Z to stick to her lane.  As she shifted to the right, we saw the car that took our place behind the van in the 'fast' lane.  It was WDD 400.  

Z explained to GI that there are times that sticking to one's lane will work but that it was not always the way to go.

Traffic eased up after Ortigas and our conversation went from shifting lanes to honking horns.  MacGyver and I often disagree about the amount of honking other drivers deserve from him.  Z mentioned that she doesn't normally honk her horn.  She would only do so if the driver of the other car had done something obviously rude or stupid.  

GI said that he would likewise honk only when necessary.  

 

"Beep-beep,"  GI went as one car cut in front of us.

I smiled quietly, content at the thought that GI would be a much calmer driver than his father between sticking to his lane and honking only when necessary.

However, my joy was short-lived.  From GMA, to the U-turn at Quezon Avenue, and all the way from Panay Avenue towards home, GI was beeping at cars left and right from the back seat.

 

"Beep-beep-beeeeeeeep!"

(What can I say?  Like father, like son.)